According to a New York Times article published Tuesday, the State Department is recommending that Americans renew their passports sooner rather than later.
“The department anticipates a surge in passport demand throughout this year, and officials hope to avoid a crush that could leave some Americans fuming in frustration with no passport in hand on the day they planned to travel outside the country,” The New York Times reports.
The report states that the uptick is due to the 2007 Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, when many American citizens applied for their first passports to visit Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition, many countries now require passports valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
At Gate 1 Travel, we recommend that all passengers carry passports valid for 6 months past your date of travel, regardless of destination; with tightening security measures worldwide, it’s often better to renew your passport well in advance than be surprised with new security restrictions close to your date of departure.
Officials expect an 8% increase in passport applications this year. If you’re dreaming of an autumn river cruise, now is the time to renew your expiring passport!
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